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These go to eleven: Senators 3, Canucks 1

Sens_tiny by Mark Parisi on in Senators recaps Comment 24 comments

Ottawa Senators' Jason Spezza, top right, secretly hopes teammate Milan Michalek won't touch the puck so his scoring streak stays alive during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, in Ottawa. Michalek was kind enough to oblige. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Pawel Dwulit)

More photos » Pawel Dwulit - AP

Ottawa Senators' Jason Spezza, top right, secretly hopes teammate Milan Michalek won't touch the puck so his scoring streak stays alive during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, in Ottawa. Michalek was kind enough to oblige. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Pawel Dwulit)

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The Ottawa Senators are a tough team to beat right now.  And spotting them an early lead is not the way to do it.  Sens fans may not know this, but in addition to being an NHL defenseman, Matt Carkner performs interpretive dance.  Here he is paired with Vancouver's Tanner Glass in a little piece he calls "The First Period:"

 


 

The Senators outshot the Canucks 12-3 and completely dominated from the puck drop to the horn.  First, they took advantage of an early penalty call with Milan Michalek putting in a power play goal, his 19th of the year.  This was especially encouraging to see as Michalek could not finish his opportunities last night.  He made no mistake on his tip in chance tonight, and he added an assist late in the period, when Jason Spezza scored on a great 3-on-1.  The team took a 2-0 lead into the 2nd period and did not look back.  It was exactly the kind of period they needed after playing a hard-fought game in Buffalo the night before, because they'd have some tired legs in the third period.

Star-divide

Sens Hero:  Brian Elliott
Holy crap.  After getting the first period off (thanks to some post luck) Elliott stood tall in the 2nd and 3rd.  One of the interesting things about his new personal win streak is that he hasn't had to make many difficult saves.  The team in front of him has done a fantastic job of limiting shots, clearing rebounds, and opening lanes for him to see the puck.  Vancouver has some strong offensive lines, so that was a much more daunting task tonight.  It was extremely encouraging to see Elliott make good save after good save and his teammates help him out.  Elliott was not at fault on the Vancouver goal -- it was a back door shot on the power play.

Sens Hero: Daniel Alfredsson
The captain assisted on all three Senators goals tonight.  I'm pretty much out of superlatives for this guy at this point.  A night after he demonstrated his leadership by scoring the game winning goal in Buffalo, he completely changed gears and generated offense in a completely different way tonight.  Alfie was everywhere. 

Bad News:  Erik Karlsson left right before the end of the second with what is being called an upper body injury.  It was reported to be a strained shoulder, but that has not yet been confirmed.  We'll post an update as soon as we have information, but Karlsson's play has been so good lately that losing him for any amount of time will hurt this team.  Who would have thought we'd say that about him just a few months ago?  He looked really good again tonight for those wondering.

Sens Hero: Cory Clouston
I remain unenthused about Clouston's line juggling, but you can't argue with results.  The fashion master has a really good handle on the pulse of this team, and whatever he did to fire them up for the start of this game worked.  The Senators faded as the game went on and the Canucks came on.  Ottawa's two-goal lead turned out to be decisive, and confidence in the system and smart play made it a lead that would stick.  Ottawa was dominated in the third period, but you never got the sense that they were reeling.  Credit for the start and the finish have to go to Clouston and his staff.

Sens Zero:  Jonathan Cheechoo
I don't like giving this, but Cheechoo was again invisible.  He had a fantastic scoring chance, but in true Cheechoo fashion could not convert it.  The effort level is there, but sadly, the production is not.  It's really hard to believe he ever scored 56 goals -- he practically needs an open net to score now.

What, you want to see another fight?

 

 

This is extra badass for Neil, since he has a mouthful of stitches still.

Noteworthy:  It should have been mentioned earlier, but Roberto Luongo did not play for Vancouver.  Apparently he got scared at the last minute was rested after playing 26 consecutive games.  Andrew Raycroft, who deserves a Sens Hero (but won't get one) for taunting Maple Leafs fans, was served his 100th career loss by the Senators.

And, it's time for a shot chart:


Sens-nucks_medium

(Via ESPN)

Game Highlights:

H/T to Japers' Rink for reminding us to make a Spinal Tap reference.

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Read More: Brian Elliott (G - OTT), Erik Karlsson (D - OTT), Milan Michalek (LW - OTT), Tanner Glass (LW - VAN), Matt Carkner (D - OTT), Jason Spezza (C - OTT), Jonathan Cheechoo (RW - OTT), Daniel Alfredsson (RW - OTT), Andrew Raycroft (G - VAN), Roberto Luongo (G - VAN), Dion Phaneuf (D - TOR), Ottawa Senators, Vancouver Canucks

Comments

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It's out of the post now

But I think there’s some sort of inside comment about Tyler Myers and illiteracy. Maybe he did a commercial about it? Or did a poor job in an interview? I don’t know.

Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.

by DarrenM on Feb 5, 2010 1:01 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Yes, I believe he is illiterate

Listening to him in interviews I swear his vocabulary is maybe 500 words

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Feb 5, 2010 1:05 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Raycroft was surprisingly solid in the game

Elliott was phenomenal.

Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.

by DarrenM on Feb 5, 2010 1:02 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Both are true

Though I bet Raycroft wants that Spezza goal back. That was stoppable.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Feb 5, 2010 1:08 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Well played by the Sens, you deserved the two points.

by jozsef on Feb 5, 2010 1:08 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Duuuuuuuude, I was just going to congratulate you on the Spinal Tap reference

I would have stolen all the credit for myself. Whatever, I still laughed when I read it.

Cannot play with 'em, cannot win with 'em, cannot coach with 'em. Cant do it.

by Andrew J on Feb 5, 2010 1:37 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

I love that movie, and maybe would have come up with it on my own

But I have to admit that I saw it two days ago when the Caps reached 11 on Japers’ twitter feed. Therefore, I can’t take credit.

Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.

by DarrenM on Feb 5, 2010 1:43 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I thought about using it once they went into the third up by two

But I couldn’t decide if it was lame or not. Once Darren posted the amp picture, my mind was made up.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Feb 5, 2010 1:54 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

We haven't seen many Senators goalies steal games

Tonight, especially in the second and third, I’m convinced Elliott stole the game.

www.silversevensens.com

by PeterR on Feb 5, 2010 10:34 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

That's a pretty fair assessment.

He elevated his game from just making the saves he should make and made a few that had to have the Canucks shaking their heads.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Feb 5, 2010 11:50 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I’m wearing my Alfredsson jersey at work in honour of the Sens’ 11th win in a row!

by Chris Marcellus on Feb 5, 2010 11:02 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Caps fan. Just wanted to drop by to let you know some folks are actually paying attention to what you Sens having been doing as well.

"You ever use smelling salts, every time you type a bad blog?" Brooks Laich

by CP2Devil on Feb 5, 2010 12:54 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Right back at you

You guys are killing it over there

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Feb 5, 2010 1:26 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

This game had playoff vibe written all over it.

The “Real Sens Army” was in the section next to us. You know, those guys that have the posters downtown? The Sens organization should actually give that group tickets to every game. They were rowdy as hell….but I think a few of them got ejected.

Anyways I was so pumped to see the Sens play well AGAIN. I figured we might be due to drop a game, but once Raycroft was announced as starter, you could feel a win coming. Every Sens fan had a smile on their face after the first period. It was just a great atmosphere. High fives galore.

Way to go Sens. I was defintely a nay-sayer after that 5 game slump, but they have proved me wrong. Praise Alfie, and Go Sens Go!

by oldmonk on Feb 5, 2010 1:55 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

A few of them always seem to get ejected

It’s total bullshit. The ushers and security guards need to understand that fans are going to get rowdy, and the Senators’ front office needs to understand that these guys are making it a more exciting environment in the building, and that’s going to be good for business in the long run. Ridiculous how they get ejected for being boisterous.

www.silversevensens.com

by PeterR on Feb 5, 2010 2:56 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, we got a warning for "swearing".

Second warning = Tossed out of building.

I think one of us might have dropped a single F bomb out loud, but that was pretty much it. They cited swearing AND beligerance.

I don’t give up an entire day’s pay to sit on my hands. It’s hockey, it’s exciting, and swearing happens. Obviously I don’t support acting like a lunatic, but Jill, our usher, appeared to be like 85 years old.

I think they need to be more lenient.

by oldmonk on Feb 5, 2010 4:45 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I don't understand... it's not the opera

I’ll be honest, when I go to the game, I’m usually pretty belligerent. I try to start chants (sometimes I’m successful), and I shout at people. There was just one time when someone complained about me, and that’s because I was in the family zone and I was cursing like a sailor. I had no problem curbing the profanities, because… well, it was the family zone. But I don’t understand the hostility towards the people who are making it an actual sporting environment

www.silversevensens.com

by PeterR on Feb 5, 2010 7:25 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

No kidding

I am as loud as I can be and I don’t give a crap whose stadium it is. I’ve never been shushed in Ottawa (probably because I cheer for the right team), but whatever… I go to the games to cheer on the team. If other people don’t like it, they should stay the shit home. How would Kovalev know when to shoot if I didn’t tell him?

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Feb 5, 2010 11:26 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Seriously, fuck the Red Coats

But starting the wave is unforgivably lame. If I was a Red Coat I would give out warnings for that shit.

Cannot play with 'em, cannot win with 'em, cannot coach with 'em. Cant do it.

by Andrew J on Feb 5, 2010 7:37 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

What's wrong with the wave?

I missed it to be honest. And now it’s back in a big way.

I guess it could be perceived as kinda wienerish, but it was cool. A group of like 20 of them got the whole arena to do it.

Big game tonight!

by oldmonk on Feb 6, 2010 10:41 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

I'm a big fan of the wave

It’s cheesy and cliche, but it still looks cool when the whole building’s in on it.

www.silversevensens.com

by PeterR on Feb 6, 2010 4:25 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

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